Pennsylvania Dutch eatery closes doors

Retail Watch

One of the region's staple spots for Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine like pig stomach and corn pie is gone.

Willow's Restaurant on Willow Lane in East Texas closed a few months ago with initial plans of re-opening this month.

But harsh economic times have rather led to its demise.

Owner Crystal Koch has decided to keep the place closed and put it up for sale.

"It just wasn't possible to keep going; the economy is not getting any better." Koch said, citing large sales declines in the months in October, November and December.

Koch said she is selling the restaurant, but keeping the house and barn that is on the property.

The eatery dates back to 1951 and has quite a following, illustrated by the many phone calls Koch has been receiving from folks saddened to hear the place has closed.

The Willow's, which is on a flood plain, staved off its demise in 2005 when it sustained flood damage. It reopened in 2007.

Enough sad news, here's a bit of good: It turns out that it's not the end for the AMC Tilghman Square 8, the theater at the Tilghman Square Shopping Center in South Whitehall Township.

AMC has signed a "multi-year" extension for the property, said Phil Schneider, an asset manager for Lamarco, the company that owns the center.

Schneider declined to say how many years AMC extended the lease.

As you may recall I tried to get AMC to comment on whether it would be extending the lease on the space that was to expire in May. A spokesman for the company said they would not be able to comment.

Schneider said there are no current plans to make capital improvements of the movie theater, which opened in 1989.

That's not the greatest news, considering the theater's current seating is being phased out by many chains to the stadium-style that makes it so much easier to view the screen, even when the tall guy with that baseball or cowboy hat always seems to sit in front of you.

The South Whitehall location is the last spot AMC has in the Lehigh Valley. A Morning Call article in 1997 noted AMC having about a handful of locations in the Lehigh Valley, including Easton and Quakertown, all of which have either closed or been sold to other theater companies.

In other retail news: (More items at blogs.mcall.com/retailwatch)

Sagra Cooking and Catering in Palmer Township is expanding. Owner Robyn Cavallaro said things are on track for a May opening of Sagra Bistro at 620 Main St., Hellertown.

Cavallaro stressed that the Palmer Township location is not closing or changing operations.

The Hellertown digs are at the former Zabowers restaurant. The restaurant will serve what Cavallaro identified as "international comfort food," and have seating for 40 people. Sagra is now awaiting liquor license approval from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

My blurb in Sunday's Retail Watch about the soon-to-be ice cream/ coffee shop in Coopersburg prompted an e-mail from the owner.

Tony Caciolo said The Inside Scoop will be opening on Mother's Day, May 10. It's located on Route 309, across the street from the Coopersburg Diner.

Caciolo said the 3,000-square-foot space will be decorated with a 1950s theme. He is also shipping in an espresso machine all-the-way from Holland. Must be a good cup! The Web site is www.theinsidescoop.com

The fate of selling six-pack beers at the Wegman's supermarket on Tilghman Street in West Allentown is now up to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Representatives for the New York-based super market chain attended a hearing with the PLCB on Feb. 23 and are now awaiting the agency's decision, said Jo Natale, a Wegman's spokeswoman.

If the PLCB approves the license, Wegmans will have all its Lehigh Valley locations selling alcohol.

Colleague Matt Assad reported that sources report celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse will open a restaurant at the Sands casino in Bethlehem.

Emeril has a chain of restaurants and if the Bethlehem location is true, this marks his 11th location for the chef.

Is the Valley turning into a celebrity restaurant chain breeding ground? Last summer retired Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula opened a Shula's Steak House restaurant at the Promenade Shops.

Long Horn Steakhouse is scheduled to join the not-yet-there White Castle fast food restaurant to offer eats at the Pohatcong Plaza II in Philipsburg.

The is still under construction. White Castle has said they stalled development of their restaurant as they await completion of the center, which is located on Route 22 and scheduled for a grand opening in the fall.

Wal-Mart is the anchor, and the center will also house a Wawa.

Retail Watch keeps track of new store, restaurant and bank development in the Lehigh Valley. Have a question about a retail construction project, a store opening or a chain you'd like to see come to the area? Call business reporter Tyrone Richardson at 610-820-6779, or e-mail retailwatch@mcall.com. Retail Watch appears every Sunday.